Buckle



Patented Jan. 5, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE fourth to Warren B.

Application August 21,

11 Claims.

The invention relates to buckles and has particular reference to a resiliently extensible buckle for providing a yieldable connection between the ends of a strap or belt.

One object of theinvention is to provide an improved extensible buckle which is simple and sturdy in construction, attractive in appearance, and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide an improved extensible buckle requiring a minimum number of parts which are adapted to be assembled by simple and easily performed operations.

. Another object is to provide an improved extensible buckle wherein both the frame and the tongue of the buckle are extensible longitudinally so that the tongue may conform to the changing len h of the frame and thereby maintain the proper relative position of the parts at all times.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a perspective view of the preferred v2i; form of the buckle embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the frame of the buckle shown in Fig. 1.

Fig.3 is a plan view of a modified form of the :30 buckle frame.

Fig. .4 is a view partly in section of another modification.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the tongue shown in Fi 1.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the tongue.

Fig. .7 is .a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 1-! of Fig. 3 and including a part of the strap for the buckle.

In carrying out my invention, I construct the buckle with a suitable shaped closed frame I having one end formed to facilitate attachment of the end of a strap or belt 8 thereto. The strap B-inay be secured to the frame in any suitable manner as by looping the end over a part of the frame and riveting or otherwise securely attachingthe end to the body of the strap. Pivotally or otherwise suitably secured to the same part of .50 the frame is a tongue 9 adapted to enter holes 6 in the opposite end of the strap and to engage with an oppositely disposed part of the frame 1 .to hold the ends of the strap'together.

To provide a degree of resiliency between the 1 connected ends of the,strap, I constructed the Thayer, Rockford, Ill.

1935, Serial No. 37,135

frame i for expansion longitudinally under tension as applied to the strap and to return to its normal position when the tension is relieved. For this purpose, the frame is preferably constructed of two separate members suitably joined together by one or more tubular means constructed of resiliently extensible material.

In one form of the buckle as shown in Figs. 1 and. 2 of the drawing, the frame 1 comprises two generally U-shaped members i0 and H connected by a coiled tension spring H to form a closed rectangular loop. The members 10 and II may conveniently be formed from wire stock bent to the desired shape. The coiled tension spring I2 is preferably formed with an internal diameter such as to snugly receive the members It and I I.

In assembling, the member ID is first inserted in the spring and moved into a position such that substantially equal portions of the spring project beyond the respective legs of the member. The projecting spring ends are then slipped over the ends of the member II and are secured to the transverse portion of the member by soldering or otherwise at points spaced so as to define a bearing for the tongue 9.

For attaching the tongue 9 to the frame, the tongue is preferably constructed with an eye ill at one end. The eye may be partially formed so as to be readily slipped over the member II after assembly of the frame and it is then secured. in place by bending the end portion back upon the body portion of the tongue.

To render the tongue 9 extensible longitudinally, it is constructed of two elongated elements mounted for movement relative to each other. One element numbered !4 and having the eye l3 formed therein is provided with a pair of outwardly and forwardly projecting ears [5 on the end opposite the eye 13. The other element [6 is likewise provided at one end with a similar pair of projecting ears H. In both cases, the. ears are spaced apart to define a channel adapted to receive the companion element. The two elements may thus be assembled together and the ears of each element bent inwardly over the other 45 element to provide a sliding engagement therebetween. It will be apparent that the. tongue so constructed may be readily extended to a limit determined by engagement of the ears I5 and IT.

The end element [6 of the tongue is preferably formed at its free end to provide a hooked portion [8 which is curved to follow the general contour of the end portion of the buckle frame I. For a purpose to appear later, the portion I8 is 5.5

oifset slightly from the body of the tongue so as to define a shoulder I8 In the modified form of buckle shown in Fig. 8, rubber is utilized to provide the resilient connection between the frame members I0 and I I. Preferably, the rubber is incorporated in a strip of fabric folded upon itself with its edges joined. at seam 20 to form an elongated tube 2| enclosing the members land I l. The ends of the tube may be fastened frictionally to the center of the member I I by tubular clip 22 upon which the eye I3 may be pivoted. It will be observed that the elastic tube 20 provides for resilientextension of the buckle frame in the same manner as the spring I2 and at the same time lends a neat and" attractive appearance to the buckle as a whole.

Figure 4 shows a modification in which, coiled springs 23 form the side members of the buckle frame and snugly receive at their opposite ends the short legs 26 and 21 of the U-sh'aped end members 24 and 25'. Frictional engagement will ordinarily be suflicient to fasten the springs and end memberstogether since the gripping'action increases automatically as the springs are extended. However, if desired, solder may be applied at these joints.

Also shown in Fig. 4 is a tongue S which differs from the tongue '9 previously described in several respects but which maybe substituted therefor in any of the modifications of the buckle herein described. Tongue 9 comprises a base portion 28 formed with an eye for attaching the same to the frame member 24. The element 28 is provided with a projecting stud 29' adapted to'be 'frictionally secured to a coiled tension spring '30. Secured to the opposite en'd'of the spring 30 is an end element 3| suitably formed to enter the holes in the strap 8 and to engage the frame member 25'. It will beapparent that the length of the tongue will vary as the spring 30 expands and contracts.

V In the modified construction of the tongue 9 as shown in Fig. 6-, the end element 32 of the tongue is substantially similar to the element I5 of the tongue!) (Fig. 5). Preferably, however, the projecting ears 3 are-of substantial width to insure proper alinement of the tongue elements. The-base element 34 is also of the same general construction as the'element M of the tongue; 9

exceptthat the projecting ears for enclosing the element 32 have been dispensed with; Instead,

; the end of the-element 34" opposite-the eye I3 is folded back to form an abutment 35' which is engageable with theears 33of the member 32 to limit the movement thereof with respect to the base member.

The operation of thebuckle constructed in accordance with the invention will be readily understood with reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing. With the buckle connecting theends of a-strap8 1 as shown, it'will be apparent that when the strap .will contract and draw the membersof the frame and likewise of the tongue back to their normal position as shown in the drawing.

In the forms of tongue shown in Figs. 5' and 6,

the extensibility of the tongue is limited by engagement of the lugs I5 and" [1 or 33 and 35. When the buckle has been extended to this limit, the tendency of the tongue end I8 to pull out of the strap hole is prevented by virtue of the engagement between the strap and the tongue shoulder I8 In this way, extensibility of the buckle is positively limited thereby preventing the resilient connecting element from being stressed beyond its elastic limit..

From the foregoing, itwill 'be. apparent that I have provided an improved extensible buckle which is simple and sturdy in construction and attractive in appearance. The buckle comprises relatively few parts which may be manufactured at low cost and readily assembled. Through the provision. of the extensible tongue, the buckle frame may expand and contract according to the degree of tension placed thereon simply by elongation of the springs and relative movement between the tongue parts; Expansion and contraction of the buckle'therefore' 'oceurswithout frictional wear on the strum? l I claim as my invention? c 1. A buckle for resiliently connecting the ends of a strap or belt, said bucklecb iprislnga longiof a strap; said buckle having "a frame comprising I a pair of generally; U shaped members reslliently joined together to form a closed rectangle; one

of said members/having attached thereto one of the ends of thestrap, and an exte'nsible tongue pivotally attached to said one member=andLextending toward the other member, said-tongue having an end portion adapted toenter a hole in the other end of the strapand to engage said other member.

3. A bucklefor resiliently connecting the ends of a strap, said buckle. having 'av iramo compflsing a pair of generally U-shaped members resiliently' joined together to; form a closed? rec: tangle, one of said members thereto one ofthe-endsof'the mic;-

tensible tongue pivotally attached t0 said onr member and extendingtowwdithe other member, said tongue comprising one elementmttaehedto said one member and a-second-Lelementi movable relative to said one element and adaptedto ienter a hole in the strapand'be held by thestra'p in'engagement with said other member whereby the tonguev conforms 'at all timesxinioverall length. to

varying lengths of the frame; r

4. A buckle for resiliently: corinecting-i the .of a' strap or theilike', said bucldehavlngzwslongitudinally. extensible frame anma correspomiingly extensible tongue," said. frameicomprisingra pair of generally U-shaped end membersione of which is adapted to: be: attached? to an; end; oi the'strap and to support saidtongue,.;and-a :coiled tension .spring enclosing. the other ofsaid end. members andhaving its ends projecting. over the respective ends of said one member and secin'ed'to the body of said one member on opposite sides of the the two members;

tongue to provide a resilient connectionfbetween 5. Abuckle for resiliently connecting theends of a strap or the like; said buckle'l'laving a-lo'ngitudinally extensibleframe -and a correspondingly extensible tongue, said frame" comprising: apan 7t of generally U-shaped end members connected at opposite ends by coiled tension springs to define a closed rectangle, said tongue having a base portion attached to the body of one of the members and an end portion connected with and movable longitudinally of said base portion whereby the said end portion remains in engagement with the other of said end members when the relative position of said end members is varied by the expansion or contraction of said connecting springs.

6. A buckle for resiliently connecting the ends of a strap or the like, said buckle having an extensible frame comprising a U-shaped end member, a resiliently extensible tube enclosing said member and having its opposite ends projecting substantially beyond the respective ends of the member, and a second U-shaped member having end portions entering into and secured to the projecting ends of said tube, and an extensible tongue carried by said second member and engageable with said first member.

7. A buckle for resiliently connecting the ends of a strap or the like, said buckle having an extensible frame comprising a U-shaped end member, a tube of rubber material enclosing said member and having its opposite ends projecting substantially beyond the respective ends of the member, and a second U-shaped member having end portions entering into and secured to the projecting ends of said tube, and an extensible tongue carried by said second member and engageable with said first member.

8. A buckle for resiliently connecting the ends of a strap or the like, said buckle having an extensible frame comprising a U-shaped end member, a strip of elastic fabric folded laterally and sewed along its edges to form a resiliently extensible tube enclosing said member and having its opposite ends projecting substantially beyond the respective ends of the member, and a second U-shaped member having end portions entering into and secured to the projecting ends of said tube, and an extensible tongue carried by said second member and engageable with said first member.

9. A buckle for resiliently connecting the ends of a strap comprising two members defining the ends of a buckle frame, resiliently extensible elements connecting the ends of said members, a longitudinally extensible tongue connected at one end to one of said members and adapted at its other end to enter a hole in said strap and bear against the other member, and stop means acting to positively limit the extensibility of said tongue within the elastic limit of said connecting elements.

10. A buckle for resiliently'connecting the ends of a strap comprising two members defining the ends of a buckle frame, resiliently extensible means connecting the ends of said members, a tongue element connected to one of said members, a second element connected at one end to slide longitudinally of said first element with its free end adapted to enter a hole in said strap and bear against the other of said members, said free end being offset to define a shoulder engageable with said strap to prevent relative longitudinal movement between said second tongue element and the member engaged thereby, and interengaging stops on said elements acting to limit the degree of extension of said tongue elements.

11. A buckle comprising, in combination, a longitudinally extensible open frame for receiving one end of a strap, and a tongue supported on said frame and arranged for engagement with said strap to hold the latter against movement relative to said frame, said tongue being constructed to extend and contract automatically as an incident to extension and contraction of said frame.

SIDNEY A. GETT S. 

